Juri Guintibano 

Fostering Belonging Through Restorative Practices

Title: Associate Director

Organization: UCSF

Age: 36

Juri Guintibano (née Sanchez), MSW, is the Associate Director of the Office of Restorative Justice Practices at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Since joining UCSF in 2022, she has co-led the effort to propose, secure funding for, and establish the university’s first restorative justice practice office. As an Inaugural team member, Juri helped design and build what has become a transformative initiative—UCSF is now the only UC campus with an Office of Restorative Justice Practices serving both the university and its medical centers. In her role, she collaborates across all levels of the institution to expand restorative practices, fostering a culture of mutual respect, empathy, and trust.

Juri was featured in UCSF’s One Good Thing series, where she reflects on her grandmother’s words—“Donde come uno, comen dos”—which shape her commitment to cultivating belonging. Guided by her family’s teachings of collective care and reciprocity, Juri believes restorative justice practices are powerful tools to strengthen relationships and create spaces that honor interconnectedness.

The daughter of Salvadoran immigrants and a Bay Area native, Juri has always been rooted in community. She holds a BA from San Francisco State University and an MSW from the University of Michigan. With over a decade of experience in education, public health, and community programs, she has worked with organizations such as the San Francisco Department of Public Health, 18 Reasons, and SFUSD.

In addition to her professional roles, Juri is passionate about expanding the visibility and scholarship of Central American communities, with a focus on Salvadoran experiences. Her research has been featured in Mi Gente, Presente! and Jump Cut.